Egg carton



Feb.` ze, 1935. M, BURGER 1,992,183

EGG CARTON Filed 0G13. 28, 1935 fill/67%# Patented Feb.. 26, 1935 EGG CARTON Martin BurgerpMorrls, Ill., assignor to Self- Locking Carton Co., Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application October 28, 1933, Serial No. 695,642

f7 Claims. (Cl. 229-29) 'I'he present invention relates to cellular cartons of the type customarily used forshipping eggs and similar fragile articles and has particular reference to improvements in the bottoml 6 structure of cartons of the type described.

A principalobjectof the invention is to provide an improved cellular carton having a bottom structure'v with egg-carrying portions suspended in inverted V-shape and other portions which are not so suspended.

An additional object is to provide a cushion bottom carton which is particularly sturdy.

y 'Ihese and other objects will be evident from a consideration of the following description and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in

which y Fig. l is a perspective view of a carton constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a' cross-sectional view of the carton shown in Fig. 1, taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top view of the carton, with the cover removed;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom view of the carton; and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In Berkey patent` No. 1,124,266, is described a carton which has met with general favor in the industry. Thiscarton consists of a top, front and rear walls, a bottom section, cross partitions hinged to the front and rear walls, and a separate longitudinal partition which, when depressed v against the collapsed partitions, causes the same to rotate into erect position. An objection to the carton is that it has a fiat bottom which does not afford adequate protection against breakage of eggs from jars, blows and the like to which the bottom of the carton is subjected. In Carter patent, No. 927,488, an attempt is made to provide a cushion for a carton of this type by the use of projecting lugs extending from the bottom edges of the front and rear walls, the longitudinal partition of the carton being provided with pro-` jections which extend through and space the bottom of the carton above a surface upon which it is positioned. In the Carter carton, however, the lugs have a tendency to break, thereby destroying the cushion, and the arrangement is such that the carton is of an objectionable height.

In accordance with my invention, I have found that the problem of cushioning can be satisfactorily solved by providing the bottom of the carton with egg-carrying portions having an inn verted V-shape and other portions which are subf'f stantially horizontal.

As shown in the drawing, a-preferred embodiment of the invention may be constructed by `suitably cutting, scoring and folding a blank of cardboard ,to form, in the order named, cover locking hooks 10, cover locking strip 11, top 12 5.

and rear wall 13, bottom portion 14, front wall 15, cross partitions 16 secured to the front wall by means: of triangular hinges 17, an attaching strip 18 secured tothe opposite side of the cross partitions by the triangular hinges 19 and being 10 folded over and glued to the rear wall at a height corresponding to the height of the front wall 15.

The cross partitions are maintained in erect positions by engagement thereof with a separate longitudinal partition 20 which has suitable cut- 15 away portions for receiving the cross partitions. The bottom 14 of the carton is provided with a plurality of transverse cuts which divide the bottom portion into alternate narrow strips 21 and broad strips 22, the latter being positioned be- 20 tween adjacent cross partitions 16 and acting as egg-carrying portions. The transverse cuts along the bottom wall preferably are extended a short distance up the front and rearwalls, as shown in the drawing. The egg-carrying portions are provided with ya. score along their central portions running longitudinally of the carton and corresponding inposition to' .the position of the longitudinal partition. This permits the eggcarrying portions to be pressed upwardly and inwardly of the carton, as shown in Fig. 2, then to inverted V-shape, thereby forming a, cushion. As the cuts defining the portions'22 are extended up the front and rear walls a short distance, the vertical sections of the egg-carrying portions 22 move slightly inwardly of the carton when the portions 22 are pressed upwardly, thereby allowing the egg-carrying portions to'be pressed into inverted V-shape. Otherwise the egg-carrying portions 22 could not be pressed upwardly into cushion-forming position without distortion of the substantially horizontal portions 21 of the bottom section. It is preferred to provide the front and rear walls with score lines 23 adjacent the tops of the verticalsections of the portions 22, whereby these sections will bend along asymmetrical line upon erection of the carton, it being understood that the score lines 213 ,are adjacent the upper ends of the cuts which/define the portions 22 as shown in Fig. 1. Centrally of each of the egg-carrying portions 22 is provided a lug-receiving opening 24 which is situated to one side of the center of the carton. This opening has a smaller lug-securing opening 25 adjoining it and extending to the center 55.

of the carton where the longitudinal partition ordinarily is positioned. The lower edge of the longitudinal partition 20 is provided with a series of bottom-supporting lugs or feet 26 which are adapted to be pressed through the lug-receiving openings 24. The lugs 26 are joined to the longitudinal partition by a relatively narrow neck 27 and when the lugs are pressed through the openings 24, the longitudinal partition is then moved toward the center of the carton, thereby caus ing the neck 27 to be received by the lug-engaging opening 25, thereby interlocking the longitudinal partition with the egg-receiving portions of the bottom section.

As will be noted from the drawing, the egg-receiving portions are situated between adjacent cross partitions, and the portions which do not receive the eggs are situated directly beneath the cross partitions whereby the latter form a brace for the portions 21 to prevent the latter from moving upwardly. These portions 21 rest on a surface upon which the carton is positioned and act to stabilize the bottom of the carton, as well as relieving the carton from side stresses. The egg-receiving portions are independent of each other and their construction is particularly well suited for cushioning purposes. For example, the individual bottom sections 22 tend to a slight. extent to swing transversely of the carton without aiecting the other egg-receiving sections, and, as the individual egg-receiving sections are considerably smaller than the ordinary unitary bottom of a carton, the material of the portions 22 is more resilient than in the case of the cartons known heretofore. Also, the carton is provided with a cushion bottom without increasing the amount of material which is used in this construction and at the same time the height of the carton is not increased.

Various modifications of my invention, as described speciically herein for purposes of explanation and description, may occur to one skilled in the art and all such-variations and modifications are intended to be included in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cellular carton of the type described, comprising front and rear walls, cross partitions extending between said walls, a longitudinal partition, and a bottom section, said bottom section being cut transverselyofthe carton having eggreceiving portions of substantially inverted V- shape and other portions of substantially horizontal construction alternating with said eggreceiving portions.

2. A cellular carton of the type described, comprising front andl rear walls, cross partitions extending between said walls, a bottom section joined to the lower edge of said walls, and a longitudinal partition, said bottom section having alternating substantially horizontal portions situated adjacent said cross partitions, and egg-receiving portions of substantially inverted V-shape situated between adjacent cross partitions and being suspended to said longitudinal partition.

3. A cellular carton of the type described, comprising front and rear walls, cross partitions extending between said walls, a separate longitudinal partition section engaging said cross partitions and having upon its lower edge a series of bottom suspending lugs, and a bottom section, said bottom section being transversely cut to form substantially horizontal portions adjacent said cross partitions, and egg-receiving portions of substantially inverted V-shape between adjacent cross partitions, and said egg-receiving portions being suspended to the lugs on said longitudinal partition.

4. A cellular carton of the type described, comprising front and rear walls, cross partitions extending between said walls, a longitudinal partition, and a bottom section having transverse cuts forming alternate substantially horizontal portions, and egg-receiving portions adapted to be pressed upwardly and inwardly of the carton into substantially inverted V-shape, the cuts in said bottom being extended upwardly along said front and rear walls.

5. A cellular carton of the type described, com-A prising front and rear walls, cross-partitions, a longitudinal partition, a bottom section cut transversely of the carton to form a plurality of adja-l cent sections, and means for suspending certain of said sections in inverted V-shape.

6. A cellular carton of the type described, comprising front and rear walls, cross partitions, a separate longitudinal partition, a bottom section cut transversely of the carton to form a plurality of adjacent sections, and means for suspending certain of said sections in inverted V-shape to said separate longitudinal partition.

7. A cellular carton of the type described, comprising front and rear walls, cross partitions extending between said walls, a longitudinal partition, a bottom member connected to the lower edges of said front and rear walls, said bottom member being cut transversely of the carton and said cuts extending up at least one of said walls to form a plurality of adjacent sections, and means for suspending certain of said sections in inverted V-shape.

MARTIN BURGER. 

